FRANKLIN — The Town Council’s Economic Development Committee has asked planning officials to draft a request for proposals (RFP) to develop the town-owned property on the corner of Emmons Street, specifying that a section of the parcel be reserved for green space.

The committee met Wednesday to review responses to the request for expressions of interest that the town put out in April.

The Franklin Department of Planning and Community Development received three letters of interest: from Dean College, a citizens group called the Gateway Committee and local developer Roger Calarese.

The next step is to use the responses to shape the RFP, which the Economic Development Committee plans to present to the council next month.

"We have an old building that in all honesty just doesn’t support any purpose: it’s a cost to the town and a liability to the town," said committee chairman and town councilor Glenn Jones of the 150 Emmons St. property. "In regards to the economic development of the town, it’s in our best interest to sell the property."

In the RFP, Jones and other members of the committee want to see it made clear that 20 percent of the property — roughly 7,000 square feet — is to be preserved for green space, ideally in the front of the parcel.

"Whatever happens on this corner, one thing that’s non-negotiable is that the actual space in the front needs to be reserved for a statue of Horace Mann," said council Chairman Robert Vallee.

According to the Massachusetts Historical Society, Horace Mann, an education reformer and politician, was born in Franklin in 1796. The town has memorialized Mann by naming a school after him.

Among the advocates for erecting a statue on the property is state Rep. Jeffrey Roy, who has suggesting building one similar to the Horace Mann statue at the State House.

Councilor Matt Kelly said the green space and statue would help toward making the property a destination in the downtown.

"I would be more than happy to drive by there and see someone sitting there reading a book," he said.